Shelf



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Dec. 12, 1961 Filed June :5, 1960 United States Patent thee 3,012,679 Patented Dec. 12, 1961 3,012,679 SHELF .lohn H. Richter, Adrian, Mich., assigner to Kawneer Company, Niles, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 3, 1960, Ser. No. 33,854 '7 Claims. (Cl. lll- 159) This invention relates to a new and improved shelf, and more specifically to a swing-out shelf adapted for use in a refrigerator or other cabinet.

In order to provide convenient access to the articles on a shelf in a cabinet, such as a refrigerator or appliance cabinet, the shelves of the cabinet frequently slide, pivot, or otherwise swing out from the cabinet. Swing-out shelves are commonly pivoted at one vertical point and difhculty is experienced in providing a pivoted swing-out shelf having suicient strength and rigidity while at the same time providing a shelf having convenient access. ln prior devices having a portion of the shelf cantilevcred from the pivot point, shelf elements frequently obstruct the access to the shelf and the load on the shelf was reacted by bending in the shelf elements, thereby resulting in higher stresses in the shelf element and presenting particularly diflicult strength and rigidity problems.

Moreover, shelves of this type are generally mass-produced and it is desirable that the shelves be readily and economically manufactured, and that the shelves be of a minimum weight. It is also desirable that the shelf pan be readily removable from the cabinet so as to facilitate cleaning thereof or to provide for its use as a serving tray.

lt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved swing-out shelf which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulty and provides the yadvantages set forth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved shelf of the swing-out type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved swing-out shelf which is strong and rigid.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved, lightweight swing-out shelf.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved swing-out shelf having unobstructed access to the front of the shelf.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved swing-out shelf comprising a pivotally mounted frame and a readily removable unitary pan or tray supported by the frame.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. l is a plan view of the improved shelf, according to the present invention, illustrating the shelf in a cabinet, the latter being shown but fragmentarily and disgrammatically;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the shelf;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of the shelf;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the shelf;

of the frame are elevated above the front portion of the frame, and the side portion of the frame remote from the hinge block is inclined downwardly to the front. The shelf is provided with `a pan or tray having a peripheral flange portion at least partially embracing the frame so that the pan is readily removable from the frame merely by lifting the pan from the frame. The pan is provided at the front with a ange which extends downwardly from the body of the pan and which covers the front portion of the frame member.

The improved swing-out shelf provides a tray having an unobstructed front access space and a raised gear portion which serves to prevent articles from falling or sliding from the shelf. Moreover, because of the vertical displacement of the ends of the frame at the hinge means, at least a part of the shelf load is reacted by direct stress in the frame thereby resulting in a strong and rigid shelf.

Referring now to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. l and 2 thereof, the improved shelf 16 is illustrated in a cabinet 12, such as a refrigerator or appliance cabinet, and comprises a hollow tubular one-piece frame 14 supporting a pan or tray 16, here shown as a sheet metal pan.

In order to provide for the shelf 10 to swing outwardly of the cabinet 12, the shelf 1) is mounted for pivotal movement by a hinge means 17 which includes a male hinge member or a hinge block 18 having a vertical aperture 18a (FIG. 2) for receiving a hinge pin 2) and a female hinge member 22 secured to a vertical wall of the cabinet 12 by a plurality of screws 2.4 or other fastening means, and having an upper and lower horizontal arm 26 and .28 respectively securing the hinge pin 2l).

In order to support the pan at its periphery, the frame 14 is bent in the general shape of the shelf perimeter and has a first horizontally disposed side portion 14a secured to the hinge member v18, a horizontally disposed back portion 141), -a second side member 14C inclined downwardly and to the front, and a generally horizontal front portion 14d at a lower elevation than the first side portion 14a and back portion 14h of the frame 14 and having a free end 14g secured to the hinge member 18 vertically displaced below a free end 141 of the first side member 14a. As best seen in FIG. l, the rear of the second side portion 14C is generally rounded in horizontal projection in order to provide for clearance between the shelf '10 and the edge 12a of the cabinet 12 as the shelf 10 is swung out about the hinge pin 2i).

l portion'16a of the pan 16. The pan 16 has an inverted FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the shelf taken along U-shaped flange 16d on its one side adjacent to the hinge member 18 and on its back portion. The U-shaped flange includes a bight portion 16e and a pair of downwardly' extending legs 16j and 16g with the inner leg 16f of the U-shaped portions 16d extending upwardly from lthe body portion 16a. The pan 16 is further provided with a downwardly directed front flange 16h across the front portion thereof. Moreover, the second side of the pan 16 remote from the hinge member 18 is provided with an inclined inverted U-shaped ange which slopes downwardly to the front so that its bight portion 16j merges into the body portion 16a of the pan 16 toward the front thereof at 16k. As best seen in FIG. 1, the body portion 16a may have a forward portion y16m extending forwardly and to the outside or left (as viewed in FIG. l) of a rounded portion 14e of the frame 14 so as vto present a square corner along the forward edge of the pan 16 and? to provide a pleasing appearance thereto.

To provide for removal of the pan 16 from the frame 14 by mere vertical lifting of the pan from the frame, the pan 16 rests on the frame 14 so that the first side portion 14a, back portion 14h, and second side portion 14e of the frame member 14 are within the U-shaped flange 16d of the pan 16 with the inner part of the bight portion 16e resting on the frame. Moreover, the downwardly projecting flange 16h across the front of the tray member 16 extends downwardly over the front of the front portion 14d of the frame 14. In this manner, the inverted U-shaped flange 16d holds the tray member 16 in position on the frame 14 and the downwardly directed flange 16 covers the frame 14 from sight so that the shelf 10 presents a pleasing appearance and so that the front of the shelf 10 is unobstructed by shelf members. Moreover, the upwardly extending U-shaped flange extending around the rst side, the back side, and at least partially around the second side of the tray 16 provides a wall which prevents articles on the shelf from sliding or being knocked off the shelf.

As heretofore described, in order to provide the necessary strength and rigidity to the shelf 19, the frame 14 has its free ends 14j and 14g secured in apertures 1Sb and 18e, respectively, in the hinge member 18 at vertically displaced positions along the hinge means, as clearly seen in FIG. 2. This arrangement provides a shelf wherein at least a portion of the load on the shelf will be carried in direct tension and compressive stress in the frame 14, rather than solely by bending of the frame 14. Moreover, the present arrangement permits the shelf i6 to be easily and quickly secured to the cabinet 12 with the single hinge member 18 through the hinge pin 20.

From the above-detailed description, the advantages of the present swing-out shelf are apparent. The shelf is strong and rigid and yet may be economically manufactured. It is provided with an unobstructed front access space and a raised rear portion which serves to prevent articles from falling or sliding from the shelf. The pan has a peripheral portion supported by the frame and is readily removable from the frame by mere vertical lifting therefrom so that the pan may be readily cleaned or may be used as a serving tray. Moreover, while the shelf is described as having particular applicability to refrigerator or appliance cabinets, the shelf may be advantageously used in various other cabinets; and various other modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art such, for example, as the first side portion 14o and rear portion 14h need not necessarily be horizontal but may incline downwardly away from the hinge member 18.

Therefore, although the present invention has been described with a single embodiment thereof, it should be understood that numerous other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A swing-out shelf for a cabinet such as a refrigerator cabinet and comprising hinge means for pivotal mounting in the cabinet; a frame member having a first side portion secured to said hinge means, a back portion, a second side portion, and a front portion at a lower elevation than said back portion and secured to said hinge means; and a sheet metal pan resting on said frame member and including a body portion having inverted U-shaped flanges on one side and back cooperating with the first side and back portions of said frame member respectively, and further having a downwardly directed front flange extending over the front portion of said frame member.

2. A swing-out shelf for a cabinet such as a refrigerator cabinet and comprising hinge means adapted for pivotal mounting in the cabinet; a frame member having a first side portion secured to said hinge means, a back portion, a second side portion, and a front portion secured to said hinge means vertically displaced downwardly from said first side member; and a sheet metal pan resting on said frame member and including a body portion having inverted U-shaped flanges on one side and back cooperating with the first side and back portions of said frame member respectively, and further having a downwardly directed front flange extending over the front portion of said frame member.

3. A swing-out shelf for a cabinet such as a refrigerator cabinet and comprising a hinge member adapted for pivotal mounting in a complementary hinge member secured to the cabinet; a frame `member having a first side portion secured to the hinge member, a back portion, a second side portion inclined downwardly to the front and a front portion at a lower elevation and generally parallel to said back portion and having one end secured to said hinge member; and a Sheet metal pan resting on said frame member and including a body portion having inverted U-shaped flanges on one side and back cooperating with the first side and back portions of said frame member respectively, and further having a downwardly directed front flange over the front portion of said frame member, and further having an inclined inverted U-shaped flange on its second side which slopes downwardly to the front so that its bight portion merges into said body portion.

4. A swing-out shelf as set forth in claim 3 above wherein the inner leg of theU-shaped flanges of said pan extend upwardly from said body portion.

5. A swing-out shelf as set forth in claim 3 above wherein said hinge member is a unitary hinge block having a vertical aperture adapted to receive a hinge pin.

6. A swingout shelf for a cabinet such as a refrigerator cabinet and comprising a hinge member adapted for pivotal mounting in a complementary hinge member secured to the cabinet; a frame member having a first, horizontal, side portion secured to the hinge member, a horizontal back portion, a second side portion inclined downwardly to the front from said back portion, and a horizontal front porti-on at a lower elevation and generally parallel to said back portion and secured to said hinge portion; and a pan resting on said frame member and including a body portion having flanges cooperating with the frame member.

7. A swing-out shelf for a cabinet such as a refrigerator cabinet and comprising hinge means; a tubular frame member vhaving a first side portion secured to said hinge means, a back portion, a second side portion, and a front portion secured to said hinge means vertically displaced 4dcmznwardly from said first portion; and a pan resting on said frame member and including a horizontal body portion having inverted U-shaped flanges extending upwardly from one side and back of said body portion with the first side and back portions of said frame member positioned with said flanges against the bight portions thereof, and further having a downwardly directed front flange extending over the front of the front portion of said frame member, and further having an inclined inverted U-shaped flange on its second side which slopes downwardly to the front so that its bight portion merges into said body portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,074,546 Hartman Mar. 23, 1937 '2,840,438 Sharpe June 24, 1952 2,861,860 Zaidan Nov. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 553,565 Canada Feb. 25, 1958 590,837 Great Britain Iuly 30, 1947 634,104 Great Britain Mar. 15, 1950 

